The 787th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) relinquished command to the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) during a relief in place/transfer of authority ceremony January 7, 2019, Camp Taji, Iraq.
Headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the 529th CSSB provides Mission Command for the units under their operational control as Task Force Cavalier, a task force that will provide sustainment support to United States and Coalition Forces in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR).
There are many responsibilities that come with leadership positions, but there is also respect which is not always inherent with a given position. Respect is instead gained via, time, and proof that respect is warranted. Leadership takes time to develop, not just within an organization or oneself, but also in those you lead, so patience is key. One of Task Force Grizzly’s final comments made by Lt. Col. Craig Roberts, 787th CSSB Commander, was a quote that goes right alongside this concept and adds perspective to what it’s like being part of a forward moving organization- In the words of General George Patton "Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way." “… And Task Force Grizzly is getting out of your way.” Lt. Col. Dennis Rohler, 529th CSSB Commander would follow with a hint of disagreement and reply, “Your legacy lives on through the professional relations and friendships we have built on our way here… we are truly thankful and as we go forward you will be right there beside us.” It is visible that respect is given and received in this handoff and it’s clear that the 529th CSSB team came ready to begin and continue mission.
“The Soldiers of the 529th CSSB continue to impress me daily. Training together for this mobilization created a team centric philosophy and it was difficult breaking up the headquarters, positioning personnel in four different countries… But the team we have developed through extensive training, along with the high morale of our personnel has enabled us to embrace the mission,” said Lt. Col. Rohler.
Along with Lt. Col. Rohler and Lt. Col. Roberts, another speaker in attendance at the ceremony was Col. Todd Erskine, 300th Sustainment Brigade (SB) Commander; Col. Erskine made a few remarks during the ceremony and presented a special token to the 787th CSSB command team.
“This ceremony is not about change but continuity. Never has this been more important than today, your mission is extremely important and will require your team to be focused and agile,” said Col. Erskine. “Disciplined, Anticipatory, Cohesive, Masters of our craft…” After which, Lt. Col. Dennis Rohler would then take the stage, in all smiles, and humbly say to the Soldiers of the 529th CSSB and guest, “I have the upmost confidence in you (529th CSSB Soldiers) - the upmost confidence in what we are prepared to do…”
In preparation for their deployment, the 529th CSSB embarked on an intensive three-week training exercise in November at Fort Pickett, Virginia that included a multitude of events such as mandatory briefing, ceremonies, range operations, Army Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills (Shoot, Move, Communicate, Fight, and Urban Operations), squad tactics and land navigation, among many others.
Fast paced, with a day or two in between, training in preparation for the deployment continued to be carried out by the Soldiers of Task Force Cavalier, who were hitting the ground hard navigating towards fulfilling all mission requirements.
In December, the 529th CSSB continued their mobilization process at Fort Hood, Texas. 529th CSSB completed individual and group tasks such as language and cultural training, briefings, personnel and financial readiness, personal equipment distribution, as well as familiarization with logistical and automation systems and equipment the unit is required to operate in theater.
Mobilization training for the 529th CSSB at Fort Hood included a Culminating Training Event (CTE) consisting of scenarios the unit would most likely encounter while conducting real-world sustainment operations in theater. Many of the CTE scenarios required actions from specific sections/shops and appointed personnel, but in all acts it is a group effort- a team of many, helping all where it’s needed. The scenarios required the 529th CSSB staff to utilize multiple processes to complete scenarios effectively and efficiently such as CAV-F (Coordinate, Anticipate, Verify, and Follow-up) and utilization of the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) to determine the best courses of action and/or to provide further guidance. The training exercise provided many personal and professional development opportunities for the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Enlisted Personnel of the 529th CSSB.
Spc. Christopher Washington, a Task Force Cavalier Soldier, a new graduate of Advanced Individual Training (AIT), relatively new to the unit and experiencing his first deployment, remarked on the three-week training at Fort Pickett and the training conducted at Fort Hood as being an important time in his military career. Washington stated, “Both training events were amazing environments for a new Soldier to be a part of. The experience of leadership that surrounded me was of such a high caliber- I was able to enjoy, embrace, and learn from them. I am fortunate and blessed to be part of such a professional organization.”
Spc. Washington, continued with, “The training was a great instrument in team building as we typically only work together one weekend out of the month, I got to work with and learn more about my battle buddies better. Being new to the unit, team building was very beneficial, as now being deployed we are working with each other daily.”
The unit was officially certified by a Fort Hood evaluation team as being validated and ready to embark on their mission upon conclusion of the Culminating Training Event. The Soldiers of Task Force Cavalier will be deployed in theater for approximately one year.
“There is a lot of work to do and we will continue to provide the levels of professionalism expected of the OIR CSSB,” said, Lt. Col. Rohler. “Army Strong, First Team, Ever There, Sustain the Fight, Slay the Beast!”
(U.S. Army National Guard story by Sgt. Roger Jackson)
| Date Taken: | 02.04.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 02.04.2019 09:15 |
| Story ID: | 309383 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 196 |
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